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16 Dec 2009 : Column 1233W—continued
Women and Equality
Departmental Legislation
Chris Huhne: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what criminal offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by secondary legislation sponsored by the Government Equalities Office since 1 May 2008. [307790]
Maria Eagle: Since 1 May 2008, there have been no criminal offences, (a) created or (b) abolished by secondary legislation sponsored by the Government Equalities Office.
Northern Ireland
Devolution: Criminal Justice and Policing
7. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the devolution of responsibility for criminal justice and policing to the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [306256]
Mr. Woodward: Significant progress has been made by the political parties in Northern Ireland to address both the outstanding issues in relation to the completion of devolution of policing and justice and also, in parallel, those other issues arising from St. Andrews-most of which the House will know have already been completed.
Presbyterian Mutual Society
11. Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the Presbyterian Mutual Society. [306260]
Paul Goggins: The Chief Secretary and the Secretary of State are both members of the ministerial working group set up by the Prime Minister.
They, along with Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive, have been in regular contact in an attempt to find ways to assist members of the Society whose investments were affected by the Society's entry into administration.
Police Intelligence Gathering
12. Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on intelligence gathering by the police. [306261]
Paul Goggins: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has discussions with the ombudsman on a range of issues from time to time, but has had no recent discussions on intelligence-gathering.
Dissident Republicans
13. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the proportion of dissident republicans in Northern Ireland who were previously members of the Provisional IRA. [306262]
Mr. Woodward: The most recent IMC report indicated that a small number of ex-PIRA members are providing support to dissident groups. It is however clear from the report that PIRA as an organisation remains committed to a peaceful path.
People Trafficking
14. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has made a recent assessment of the extent to which people are trafficked between Northern Ireland and England. [306263]
Paul Goggins: Since the 1 April 2009 the PSNI have recovered 15 victims of human trafficking in Northern Ireland. Victims have travelled to Northern Ireland from other parts of the UK, from the Republic of Ireland and directly via international transit.
Irish Government Commission: Child Abuse
15. Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on the implications for Northern Ireland of the outcome of the Irish Government's commission to inquire into child abuse and other related inquiries; and if he will make a statement. [306264]
Paul Goggins: I have received a letter from the Northern Ireland Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety about this matter which I am currently considering. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also received an email about this matter from a solicitor in Northern Ireland.
Christmas
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Christmas trees were purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; what the cost was of those trees in each year; from where the trees were sourced; what account was taken of the sustainability of the sources of the trees; and by what process the trees were disposed of. [305637]
Paul Goggins: The following table shows how many Christmas trees were purchased by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies but excluding its agencies, NDPBs and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years; the cost of those trees; and the process by which the trees were disposed of.
| Number of trees | Total cost (£) | Disposal process | |
The following table shows how many Christmas trees were purchased by the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years; the cost of those trees; and the process by which the trees were disposed of.
| Number of trees | Total cost (£) | Disposal process | |
During the defined five year period the PPS has changed from providing real Christmas trees to providing artificial trees.
The following table shows how many Christmas trees were purchased by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, in each of the last five years; the cost of those trees; and the process by which the trees were disposed of.
| Number of trees | Cost (£) | Disposal | |
The Compensation Agency and Youth Justice Agency have had no expenditure on Christmas trees in each of the last five years.
Information in relation to the Forensic Science Agency could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The names of suppliers cannot be disclosed for security reasons. Sustainability of the source of the trees is in the remit of the suppliers.
Departmental Conferences
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which conferences held overseas have been attended by civil servants based in his Department in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of such attendance at each conference. [305858]
Paul Goggins: Conferences held overseas that have been attended by civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland (PPS) but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, in the last three years, and the cost to the public purse of attending these conferences, is shown in the following table.
Additional expenses may have been paid through expense claim forms but this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principals of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plasma screen televisions his Department has purchased since 2001; and what the cost has been of purchasing and installing such screens in each such year. [306069]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, had expenditure on plasma screen televisions in two financial years since 2001. The expenditure, including installation costs, is as follows:
| Number of plasma screen televisions | At cost of £ | |
All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
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